Gabriella Poole - Blood Ties (Darke Academy)

Ranjit gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Cassie, he’s trying to help.’

She whirled to face him. ‘Don’t patronise me! “Control my emotions”? Well, guess what, that’s far bloody easier said than done. I didn’t

ask for this, so just how the hell do you expect me to know how to control it?’

‘You must try, Cassandra,’ Sir Alric said wearily.

‘Come on, Cassie,’ Ranjit said gently. He reached over to take her hand, and she reluctantly allowed him. ‘There’s nothing more we can

do tonight. Let’s leave it for now. See what Sir Alric can find out.’ He nodded towards the principal. ‘Goodnight.’

Cassie noticed a shadow cross Sir Alric’s expression as he watched Ranjit put an arm around her and lead her out.

‘Goodnight.’

The door closed silently behind them. Cassie was all too happy to leave the penthouse office. Ranjit, though, was silent and withdrawn.

Hardly surprising, she decided. He’d taken her straight to Sir Alric, certain that he would provide both an explanation and assistance. And

look how it had turned out. Sir Alric Darke was no more use to them than Sara’s feeble Few powers had been to her …

‘Are you sure Sara was all right?’ she ventured, reddening as she remembered the reason for her flight from Carnegie Hall.

Ranjit shrugged. ‘Well, she was alive.’

Cassie sighed deeply. ‘I wish none of this had ever happened.’

‘Too late, Cassie.’ He was quiet for a long moment, but then spoke again, a glint playing darkly in his eyes. ‘But you know what?

Whatever the reason for it, the truth is you were magnificent tonight. So strong. I … I couldn’t take my eyes off you.’

Cassie stayed silent for a moment, unsure what such an admission might mean, or how to reply. She settled on the truth.

‘Whatever the reason … I enjoyed doing it.’ She paused. ‘Doesn’t that scare you? I know it scares me.’

‘Yes, it does. But I can’t deny my nature.’ He shook his head. ‘Let’s not talk about that right now. You’ve been through a lot tonight. You

should get some sleep.’

‘But I – I thought we could hang out a bit.’ Cassie found she was desperate to keep him with her, to have presence for a little longer. ‘I’m

not tired …’

‘I am.’ But he reached out to her all the same, pulling her closer, almost as if he didn’t know he was doing it. ‘Surely you must be too.’

‘I’m not,’ Cassie murmured. Her eyes swept urgently around his face, her hands moving up to caress it, unthinkingly. He seemed

bewildered, his breathing heavy.

She drew in a breath to say something else. Too late. His mouth was suddenly on hers, his tongue finding her tongue and striking sparks

off her nerve endings. For an instant the tide of lust held her immobilised; then she was returning the kiss, passionately, almost violently.

Her arms snaked round his neck, warm under her touch, and she drew him closer, so close, as if their bodies were trying to fuse together.

Yesss …

Estelle’s voice inside her mind, echoing her thoughts once more.

Together, we must be, all of us … !

Suddenly, Cassie felt Ranjit’s fingers in her hair, tugging it, pulling it taut. She gave a gasp of pain but then drew his mouth to hers once

more. She sucked his lower lip between her teeth, biting down hard, almost drawing blood – there was an urgency, a violence developing

between them, but she felt powerless to break their embrace …

‘STOP THIS AT ONCE!’

The barked order was sudden and fierce. Ranjit’s head snapped back, breaking contact. Cassie growled in frustration. It took her a

moment to realise that Sir Alric stood beside them, framed in the doorway of his office, his shoulders tense and his hands clenched into

fists.

Ranjit seemed stunned into silence for a beat, licking a drop of blood from his lips. ‘I’m sorry—’

Don’t apologise, lover …

‘Don’t apologise,’ Cassie heard herself echo, and the words brought her back to cold reality. Had Ranjit been apologising to her, or to Sir

Alric?

‘I think both of you should proceed to your own rooms forthwith,’ said Sir Alric through gritted teeth.

Ranjit nodded, looking shaken. Cassie frowned. What was his problem? Of course it was a bit embarrassing to be caught kissing by the

principal, but they weren’t really doing anything really wrong, were they?

Ranjit stepped away from her, very deliberately. She shook her head, and gave a mirthless laugh.

‘Night, Ranjit.’

‘Goodnight, Cassie.’ His eyes still held a shade of longing.

Frustrated, she turned away without a second glance at Sir Alric. But as she walked down the hall she heard the principal’s voice, low

and severe.